2025 NBA Draft

[basketballRob]

Queen looks like he has no motor at all. I'm not sure how you fix that. I could see him as one of those players who falls in the draft.

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[RookieStar]

To those wanting Wolf....

His offensive BBIQ reminds me of a bigger Jingles... hmmmmm....

I'm not that impressed watching him, has a solid whiff of lumbering to him

He's more mobile than vuc to me, not vuc now prime vuc

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Prime Vuc would look like Allen Iverson if you pair/compare him up with the lumbering 7ftrs you saw on NCAA teams.

[pepe1991]

Some of you overreact about seniors.
You realize that Clayton for example, is same age as Giddey and Kuminga who are in nba for 4 years?

It's just experience and body maturity that seniors have over 18-19 y.o. kids.

Flagg and flashes of Harper, to me are only ones with that eye-popping wow factor in them. So far, i didn't see much in rest of prospects that would intrigue me too much.

[RookieStar]

https://youtu.be/ddBFVxVP9M0?si=WzoTi0lbOJMPru_b

Clifford again, Great fit, nice 7th/8th man on the bench

Nique is a 2/3 at 6’6

Suggs (2)
KCP (2/3)
AB (1/2)
G Harris (2/3)
Jett (2/3)
Franz (3/4)
TDS (3/4)
Houstan (4/3)

How is he a 7/8th man off the bench? No minutes for a wing unless a trade is made. He’s also 23/24 so you don’t draft him if he isn’t playing minutes.

Trade will be made, and if you think Harris will be here next season I don't know what to say to you.

We r gonna draft (if we use our picks) a bench player, NOT a starter

Yup... our draft spot is a bench role player unless we luck out and get a Giannis/Jokic

[yoyojw17]

https://youtu.be/ddBFVxVP9M0?si=WzoTi0lbOJMPru_b

Clifford again, Great fit, nice 7th/8th man on the bench

Nique is a 2/3 at 6’6

Suggs (2)
KCP (2/3)
AB (1/2)
G Harris (2/3)
Jett (2/3)
Franz (3/4)
TDS (3/4)
Houstan (4/3)

How is he a 7/8th man off the bench? No minutes for a wing unless a trade is made. He’s also 23/24 so you don’t draft him if he isn’t playing minutes.

Trade will be made, and if you think Harris will be here next season I don't know what to say to you.

We r gonna draft (if we use our picks) a bench player, NOT a starter

And if he works out to be more than a bench player.... Even better. Makes other players tradable. And he looks like he can be a good go to guy off the bench and keep things rolling. Based on people's impressions on a lot of our guards.... Whether they don't see them as being all that great or don't have the patience to wait for them ... Seems ok to swing on a senior that is multi-faceted and from a personality standpoint ready to shoulder the responsibility.

[RookieStar]

Queen looks like he has no motor at all. I'm not sure how you fix that. I could see him as one of those players who falls in the draft.

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Oh he has motor... on the offensive possesion. But when it comes to defense, dude is a traffic cone. We thought Jingles was slow and gives up on D? Queen is modeling that game after him.

[Skybox]

Queen and Wolf look like decent players but horrible fits in ORL, imo.

Oddly, a frp in the teens probably has a lot more trade value than actual basketball value to ORL. Trade it.

[Idiosyncratic]

Are we really looking at drafting somebody in the mid first round and 26th pick? If somebody fits our timeline, sure. But why not package the draft picks and assets for someone who can elevate this team further. That is just my opinion

I personally hope they trade one, I am more on board with a trade than I ever have been. They need a rotation guard right now. Maybe I look like the "don't trade any picks" guy sometimes, but I would be looking to make a trade this year for sure. I enjoy the draft, but I am a realist and know they aren't likely to get someone that can help instantly in the draft and they need guard help instantly.

I just push back against the idea that we don't need any more rookies. We are going to need to hit on some role players on affordable contracts whether they are 1st round picks, 2nds, undrafted whatever or this whole thing is going to end very quickly. Draft is just the most likely way to do that and sometimes the guy you pick even becomes very good, not just a role player.

But right now this year? I really do hope they make a trade for a proven player, so agree with you there. I hope they use a 2nd if they trade both 1sts is all I ask. And they may be able to acquire a guy they want with just pick #15. And if they do trade two 1sts I hope they are getting someone very solid.

I am very for a trade, I am not very in support of getting bad value for a commodity that is highly valued around the league right now.

[Idiosyncratic]

Queen and Wolf look like decent players but horrible fits in ORL, imo.

Oddly, a frp in the teens probably has a lot more trade value than actual basketball value to ORL. Trade it.

I've actually mostly gotten to this point as well. Obviously depends on who drops to 15 and who they can trade it for. But based off who I think is going to drop there and the value they should be able to get in a trade, I don't really disagree.

I am fine if they just take shots with their 2nds and/or Nuggets pick.

[Idiosyncratic]

On Nique Clifford... Gotta agree if they are just going to pick another backup wing, just trade the pick. Nique Clifford, Mcneeley , Demin even Knueppel. If those are the guys that are there, just feels like such low value for us compared to what we need.

Now that my Fears dreams are mostly dead unless we lose the play-in, I just don't value picking 15 for us that much more than the Nuggets pick. I really like Jase, but he is going to take time and not guaranteed to play on ball which makes it tough at his size. Asa and Sorber would be competent picks for future centers, but we get more value out of getting a guard now.

Can't believe I landed in the trade our pick camp smh.

[Rainwater]

Just came to say both these picks need to be traded, lol.

[eyriq]

My main motivation to trade a pick this draft is to package it with Cole for Simons, Coby, or Sexton.

Otherwise I think you can get Poole without giving up draft equity.

I prefer to keep both picks, I want the G-League and Green Goblins to be chalk full of first rounders.

[Idiosyncratic]

My main motivation to trade a pick this draft is to package it with Cole for Simons, Coby, or Sexton.

Otherwise I think you can get Poole without giving up draft equity.

I prefer to keep both picks, I want the G-League and Green Goblins to be chalk full of first rounders.

Coby driving his price up, can we even afford his extension at this point? Why would he extend at or below market value instead of trying to build on his recent performance at this point? Makes him tricky IMO.

I don't hate Poole if he costs very little.

I gotta look around the league and see who else could be available.

[eyriq]

My main motivation to trade a pick this draft is to package it with Cole for Simons, Coby, or Sexton.

Otherwise I think you can get Poole without giving up draft equity.

I prefer to keep both picks, I want the G-League and Green Goblins to be chalk full of first rounders.

Coby driving his price up, can we even afford his extension at this point? Why would he extend at or below market value instead of trying to build on his recent performance at this point? Makes him tricky IMO.

I don't hate Poole if he costs very little.

I gotta look around the league and see who else could be available.

Yeah. The main thing that's clear I think is that the Cole/Jett scoring guard plan isn't working.

[VFX]

Some of you overreact about seniors.
You realize that Clayton for example, is same age as Giddey and Kuminga who are in nba for 4 years?

It's just experience and body maturity that seniors have over 18-19 y.o. kids.

Flagg and flashes of Harper, to me are only ones with that eye-popping wow factor in them. So far, i didn't see much in rest of prospects that would intrigue me too much.

Agreed.

There is always needed context.

If you are drafting a Junior or Senior player in the first round there is always a huge potential curve you have to take into account. They simply lack the potential upside projected freshman have in the first round. It's basically a wasted pick if they arent contributing and earning minutes in year 1-2 with this in mind.

For a team like Orlando, drafting a senior or junior comes down to how much more immediate of a timeframe they are valuing over developing some 18 year old kid that might never pan out. There is a lot less risk and guesswork drafting a man with a skillset, and 3/4 seasons of data, rather than a kid with potential.

I believe this is why they took da SIlva. He fits the timeframe and wasnt some kid they needed to develop with Jett and AB. The minutes were also available because JI never is. Pretty easy choice. I dont see the same opportunities this time around unless bigger moves are made. Point Guard is basically the only spot they can take that risk for lack thereof. Minutes dont exist anywhere else really and Weltman doesnt make trades.

I'd almost rather they just trade the picks rather than get invested in these limited late round opportunities for minutes that dont exist.

[eyriq]

I think there are three plans in motion

Plan 1: The core
Lock up Paolo, Franz, and Suggs.

Plan 2: The front court
WCJ and Goga as the big rotation, JI as the 3rd forward.

Plan 3. The back court
Cole passing the torch to Jett as the bench scoring guard, KCP passing the torch to AB as the 2nd guard.

I think the front court and back court plans need re-tooling and I suspect draft equity will be required to re-tool.

[drsd]

I think there are three plans in motion

Plan 1: The core
Lock up Paolo, Franz, and Suggs.

Plan 2: The front court
WCJ and Goga as the big rotation, JI as the 3rd forward.

Plan 3. The back court
Cole passing the torch to Jett as the bench scoring guard, KCP passing the torch to AB as the 2nd guard.

I think the front court and back court plans need re-tooling and I suspect draft equity will be required to re-tool.

I agree that, whether we like it or not, you nailed the "certain" players to return in your plan-1/plan-2 line.

2025/26 depth would be:
Suggs/Black
xxxx/xxxx
F-Wagner/xxxx
Banchero/Isaac
Carter/Bitadze

For point-3 in my disagreement, I add that it is probable that da Silva and M-Wagner returns, and and that Howard is not certain, then:

Suggs/Black/xxxx
xxxx/xxxx/xxxx
F-Wagner/da Silva/xxxx
Banchero/Isaac/xxxx
Carter/Bitadze/M-Wagner

So: one starting guard and a bunch of bench-depth. Not that hard for We Park, right?

Not saying I like this team. But I am saying it is probable.

[basketballRob]

Queen looks like he has no motor at all. I'm not sure how you fix that. I could see him as one of those players who falls in the draft.

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Oh he has motor... on the offensive possesion. But when it comes to defense, dude is a traffic cone. We thought Jingles was slow and gives up on D? Queen is modeling that game after him.

He walks up the floor. I'm not sure that would work with a 24-second clock.

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[yoyojw17]

Was drafted to us in the Utility Sports Mock with the Denver pick.

kinda liking what i see as a shooter, facilitator, and defender.

Watch on YouTube

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/bennett-stirtz-1.html

[Idiosyncratic]

Was drafted to us in the Utility Sports Mock with the Denver pick.

kinda liking what i see as a shooter, facilitator, and defender.

Watch on YouTube

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/bennett-stirtz-1.html

Yeah like him with the Denver pick. He needs to get stronger and I'm not sure he's 6'4. Can shoot it and constantly makes the right decision.

Would not surprise me at all if some big school throws big NIL money at him. If his agent or whatever gets the feel he's going late 1st I think it could be hard to pass up going to the NBA though.